This was only a beginning—the first step.
Around them stretched the massive walls of the ancient landmark, and somewhere within their confines Leon was to be found.
Roderic never groped in the dark when there was a chance for light, and he had used his utmost endeavors during the day in trying to locate the prisoner.
One portion of the old fortification was literally a picturesque ruin.
It did not seem possible that even the easy going Spaniards would confine a prisoner, condemned to be shot, to this antiquated wreck, for there would be too much chance of his escaping, especially one who had already proven so hard to hold as Leon.
This was of course mere speculation on the part of the Yankee, but he had taken note of several facts that seemed to corroborate his suspicion.
At any rate so strongly impressed was he with this idea that once within the fortress he had no hesitation in turning to the left.
Possibly Roderic never had a more difficult task than the one now confronting him.
The interior of the great pile of masonry was almost a sealed book to him, the best he could do during the afternoon having given him but a shadowy idea as to how it was constructed.